North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady makes it official: he's running for Kucinich's seat

[oberliner]

North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady announced on Thursday that he was running for Congress, making him the second official this week to challenge Dennis Kucinich (if he runs for reelection) . On Tuesday, Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman kicked off his campaign for the job.

On Thursday, in front of children at Maple Intermediate School in North Olmsted, O'Grady said that jobs, education and healthcare will be his focus if elected congressman in the 10th District.

Having two office holders in March 4 primary will likely split any anti-Kucinich vote, making it difficult for either one to knock off Kucinich, who won re-election in 2006 with 76 percent of the vote.

Cimperman and OGrady are not alone in their desire to topple Kucinich, whose long-shot bid for president and time away from the district have attracted primary challengers.

Anti-war activist Rosemary Palmer, whose son was killed in Iraq, has been campaigning since June. Barbara Ferris, a former Peace Corps and United Nations worker clobbered by Kucinich in 2006, is also trying again.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/12/north_olmsted_mayor_thomas_ogr.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. I predict that Kucinich will be reelected, but only by a plurality

Most voters will choose someone else, but his opposition will be split enough for him to win.